Bianca Umali, lola ang itinuring niyang tunay na “Sang’gre” sa kanilang tahanan

• Bianca Umali honored her grandmother Vicky, whom she considers the family’s “real Sang’gre”
• Vicky became Bianca’s primary caregiver after she lost both parents during childhood
• Bianca shared that her grandmother raised 15 granddaughters under the same roof
• Retired and widowed, Vicky still managed to provide for and raise the family

Bianca Umali paid an emotional tribute to her grandmother, Vicky, whom she considers one of the strongest and most influential figures in her life, calling her the “real Sang’gre” for the courage and dedication she showed in raising their family.

During a previous guest appearance on i-Listen with Kara David, Bianca opened up about the difficult circumstances of her childhood and how her grandmother became her primary source of care after she lost both of her parents.

Bianca was only five years old when her mother died from an illness. Five years later, her father passed away from a heart attack. At just 10 years old, she found herself living under her grandmother’s care and trying to understand a life that had suddenly changed.

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“When I was left in my grandmother's house, if I remember correctly, it was more being in shock of, okay, what's next?” she said.

“I didn't have people who were pillars of my life beside me at all. It was really, okay, dito ako kasama ng lola ko.”

Bianca admitted that processing the loss was especially difficult at such a young age.

“The processing of it sa utak ko ng mga panahon na 'yun, it was very difficult to articulate and it was very difficult to figure out on your own,” she said.

Her grandmother’s responsibilities, however, extended far beyond caring for Bianca. Vicky also took care of many other grandchildren, creating a household filled with girls from different generations.

“Umabot na 15 kaming mga apo na babae under her care,” Bianca shared.

“We were all girls, Ma'am Kara. Kaya parang bahay ampunan ng mga babae ang setup namin.”

Now 89, Vicky continues to leave an impression on Bianca through her energy, strength and determination. For the actress, those qualities are reminiscent of the powerful “Sang’gre” characters from the GMA fantasy series.

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“Palagi kong sinasabi, naniniwala ako na ang lola ko ang tunay na Sang'gre,” Bianca said.

“Iba talaga siya. Iba 'yung lakas niya kapag nasa loob siya ng bahay niya, kapag nagtatanim siya, kapag siya ay nag-aasikaso sa amin.”

Bianca emphasized that raising such a large family was far from simple, particularly because her grandmother had already retired and was widowed at the time.

“Imagine, iba-iba kaming personalities, iba-ibang generations, iba-ibang edad. And yet she was able to raise all of us,” Bianca said.

“My lola was retired. She already lost our lolo. So she did not have a stable source of income to raise all of us,” Bianca said.

The actress said her family still finds it remarkable how Vicky managed to provide food, education and guidance despite those circumstances.

“Diyan din kami nahihiwagaan kung paano niya nagawa na pakainin kami, paaralin kami, and to raise us as the people we are now.”

For Bianca, her grandmother’s greatest legacy is not simply that she raised them, but that she willingly chose to take responsibility for the family and did so wholeheartedly.

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“She’s our superhero,” Bianca said.

“Kasi kung wala siya, puwede naman na hindi niya kami alagaan. But she still chose to take all of us in wholeheartedly without asking for anything in return. Kaya she's a true Wonder Woman.”

Through her tribute, Bianca highlighted how Vicky’s strength went beyond providing for the family. Her grandmother became a steady presence during one of the most difficult periods of the actress’s life, while also helping shape the many grandchildren who grew up under her care.

Bianca Umali is a prominent Filipino actress, commercial model, and host who rose to fame as a sought-after GMA Network star in series like Kambal, Karibal and Legal Wives. Renowned for her dramatic versatility, she has expanded into international and high-profile projects, notably starring in the HBO Asia series Food Lore and taking on lead roles in major fantasy sagas.

In another report, Bianca Umali revisited one of the most painful experiences of her childhood as she recalled witnessing the deaths of both her parents. She shared that her mother passed away from breast cancer when she was only five, while her father died of a heart attack when she was 10. Bianca admitted that being exposed to such profound loss at a young age was difficult to comprehend and process. She also acknowledged that the memories surrounding their final moments have remained with her, with their meaning and emotional weight continuing to change as she grows older.

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Meanwhile, Bianca Umali spoke about the challenges of growing up without her parents and how their absence affected her understanding of love and family. She recalled wondering why she could not experience the same kind of parental affection that other children received. Seeing kids grow up alongside their complete families also made her more aware of what she had lost. Through years of reflection and her faith, however, Bianca said she eventually learned to view that longing differently and turn it into a source of inner strength.

Source: KAMI.com.gh